I want to start this blog post off by saying that I’ve only been to one college and therefore only know how the workings of this college pan out (to a certain degree). Therefore, I assume that most, if not all, other colleges have something that’s at least similar to the experiences that I describe. Why would I say that now though? Well– this post is going to be about visiting your advisers. Some schools may have a different title for the position but I’m going to be referencing those fantastically special people that keep you sane (especially as you get closer and closer to graduation).

That’s right, folks! Here is that blog post I talked about doing a few weeks ago on social media posting. The reason for waiting a little bit between publishing Keys to College Success: Networking and this post is because, through my position as an “RA,” I helped host an event that was centered around this topic. For this event, the group of people I work with invited representatives from MU’s Career Center to come speak about just how much social media impacts your ability to get a job. What they told us was quite interesting!

Last week I talked about how professional networking is a great thing to participate in when you’re in college because it will help you get a job. This week I figured I’d do a slight backtrack to explain how you get those professional connections. (True it would have made sense to do this first, but sleep deprivation is a thing sometimes and this order still kind of works.)

Have you ever heard the phrase: “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” As a senior in college preparing to enter the business world, I’m finding that I relate to this more and more. Now, that’s not to say that I haven’t worked very hard during these past four years or that I’m solely relying on recommendations to get me where I’d like to be in the professional world. Anyway, the bottom line of all of this is that networking is very important and no matter how much we hate to admit it, it’s a necessary element in growing up.

Funny story: ever since elementary school my parents have told me and my sister that we’d be responsible for paying for our own college, car, etc. I thought it was pretty unfair at first (because what little 8-year-old would think that was fair?). However, as I grew up I realized that my parents weren’t trying to punish me: they were just trying to teach me responsibility. Now, as a senior with half a semester of college left, I can say that I finally get it. I understand that I can’t afford to be frivolous with my money and that I have to work hard in a job just as much as I have to work hard at my academics. So, how do I ever get to that point?

Looking back on these past for years it seems kind of funny that I chose to be a journalist. Why? I have trouble talking to people I don’t know…and even people I do know. Even if you don’t know much about journalism, everyone seems to know that you’re not going to get any stories if you don’t talk to anyone. So, how do you change that? Get out there and meet knew people. Put yourself out there.

The great thing about having my own blog (aside from the fact that I can write about whatever I want to write about), is that through writing I find a lot of stuff out about myself. Sometimes these are activities that I wouldn’t normally try and find out I like. Sometimes it’s a self reflection on my job and how I work with others. Either way, I would have never found these things out if I hadn’t had put myself out there.